Reading acquisition drives linguistic cross-modal convergence in the left ventral occipitotemporal cortex

Reading acquisition requires linking visual symbols with speech sounds, leading to the development of neural sensitivity to print. While prior studies have shown the importance of cross-modal integration in spoken language areas, the higher-level visual area (lvOT) processing printed words remained more context-dependent. This longitudinal study investigated whether the lvOT undergoes cross-modal reorganization to facilitate print-speech integration during reading development and how these changes relate to reading skills. We followed children over two years, beginning at the onset of formal reading instruction. We examine lvOT responses to print-specific, speech-specific, and its convergence at whole-brain, region of interest, and voxel-based levels. Results showed that with reading experience, the initial print-specific responses in the lvOT are transformed into responses to both print and speech input. This transformation positively correlates with reading skills, especially in early stages of reading acquisition. These findings suggest that reading acquisition drives cross-modal reorganization within the lvOT, enabling the area to integrate print and speech. They shed light on the broader neural mechanisms supporting reading development.